Students in this course will read several essays that make strong and sometimes surprising claims about how the world works, and that support those claims well. These are intended as models for thinking about how to “make one’s case” in writing, something most of us will have to do often in the future, whether persuading an employer that a new marketing approach can succeed, convincing a jury of a client’s guilt or innocence, or demonstrating to fellow scientists that findings from an experiment could lead to useful new medical procedures. College papers in most fields require students to make claims and support them with evidence. This class is designed to help students understand how other writers construct their arguments, and to make their own cases as persuasively as possible.

Writing Practicum is graded on a credit / no credit basis. In order to receive credit for this course, students are required to complete several writing exercises, to draft and revise three formal papers ranging from three to six pages in length, and to meet individually with the instructor six times during the semester to discuss specific writing questions or difficulties.

Required texts include A Pocket Style Manual, 4th edition, ed. Diana Hacker (available at Shaman Drum) and a coursepack (available at Dollar Bill). Coursepack readings address topics such as whether watching television makes you smarter, whether paying too much attention to nutrition makes you unhealthy, and whether natural disasters can be socially beneficial.
Writing Practicum is not a remedial writing class, but a challenging course that allows students to focus on improving their writing without concern for grades.

Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms.

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